Winter Olympics: US figure skater Nathan Chen rockets to gold!
Beijing, China - The US scored another gold after figure skater Nathan Chen thrilled the audience at the Beijing Winter Games!
The three-time world champion, skating to Elton John's Rocket Man, received a standing ovation at the end of his Olympic performance on Thursday.
The 22-year-old earned 218.63 for his routine, for a total score of 332.60.
Chen dominated from the start of the competition, with a world record score of 113.97 in the short program on Tuesday.
"Of course, there are certainly many things I could have done better, but overall I was very happy I was able to do the program that I put down," Chen said.
"It means the world. I'm just so happy. It's a whirlwind right now. I had a blast out there."
Chen said he never felt he'd be able to earn an Olympic medal.
"I'd always of course dream about making the Olympics and winning the Olympics, but I (thought), 'That's hard, I don't know if I can make that happen.'"
Japanese skaters rounded out the podium, with Yuma Kagiyama (18) claiming silver, with a skate to the music of Gladiator by Hans Zimmer. Kagiyama earned a 201.93 to finish with 310.05 points, a personal best.
Shoma Uno, skating to Boléro, took home bronze with a total of 293.
Cover photo: IMAGO / Penta Press